IT’S pantomime time again! Oh yes it is!

The Upstagers annual family pantomime almost upon us and this year will see the theatre group cast off to far away lands for the adventures of Sinbad at the King’s Hall in Ilkley between January 24 and February 1, 2020 with ten performances in all including three matinees.

The show will be the telling of the tale of Sinbad. It is a classic pantomime tale aimed squarely at a family audience. The earliest known version of the story dates back to the 17th century where it formed a later addition to the One Thousand and One Arabian Nights stories.

It tells of a heroic sailor who has fantastic adventures on his seven voyages to magical realms, encountering monsters and witnessing supernatural phenomena.

Upstagers will be recounting Sinbad’s amazing, but rarely heard tale of his most daring eighth voyage!

As Sinbad returns to the Kingdom of Olitropolis after his latest lucrative and daring adventure, he is worried about the environmental impact of his constant travelling and vows to tackle the diminishing habit of a rare Olitropolis creature. However, when the good and kind Sultan of Olitropolis disappears leaving his beautiful daughter at the mercy of the shifty and possibly evil Grand Vizier, Sinbad is called in to action. He meets the beautiful Princess Shahazerad and vows to help find the Sultan and with the help of his dysfunctional family - Mum, Senorita Margarita and brother, Finbad, they set about foiling the Grand Vizier’s despicable plan to take over the kingdom and enter the higher echelons of pantomime villainy. Along the way our heroes encounter terrible tempests, fantastic creatures and the odd confused pirate. Will Sinbad find the Sultan and prevent the Grand Vizier’s dastardly scheme from succeeding? Will the Princess agree to go out on a date with him? All will be revealed in a show packed with family fun, amazing songs, spectacular dance routines and many, many terrible jokes. It is definitely a show not to be missed.

Reprising their hugely successful and award winning roles from last year’s pantomime are Elliot Broadfoot as Dame Senorita Margarita and Lois Brook as Sinbad and with Ilkley’s favourite pantomime villain George Scaife returning to the cast, all ably supported by a talented cast of local performers, it is set up to be a spectacular production.

The co-director of the show, Andrew Hewitt said: “We have another amazing show on the cards again this year. The team have been working tirelessly to put on a pantomime that we think is going to raise the roof of The King’s Hall.

“The cast, from the main principal performers right down to our younger tinies, are so looking forward to entertaining the audiences that we love to see coming through the doors.

“I’d urge everyone to come along to support our local performers and have a great time whilst doing so.”

Upstagers will be supporting Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice charity during the pantomime run, who undertake such wonderful work in our local community and who have provided help and support to Upstagers members this year.

Tickets for the pantomime are available on the Upstagers website www.upstagers.org.uk/boxoffice, by calling 0333 666 3366 or by calling the local box office on 01943 607944 (restricted hours apply).